Protective device for flexible conduits



Dec. 14, 1937.. G. J. KOPP 2,102,010

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE CONDUITS Filed Jan. 2, 1936 Fig.2.

lnve nT or. Geofge U. K-QP byMWiW ATTys Patented Dec. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE V PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE CONDUITS George J'. Kopp, Allston, Mass. Application January 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,144

2 Claims.

a device which will permit the flexing of the conduit, but which will prevent the conduit from abrupt bending or kinking.

A further object of .the invention is to provide a protective device of the character described which Will prevent abrupt bending or kinking of a flexible conduit su'chfas a hose, at or near the coupling of the .endthereof to a rigid conduit.

More particularly the invention relates to a protective device for the end portion of: a beer hose which is connected to a rigid conduit orfitting, the opposite end of which is connected by a bayonet joint, or otherwisa to a beer barrel or.container and which necessitates rotation'of the fitting incoupllng it to the barrel. -In such instances the flexible hose is frequently grasped by the operator in making the connection and bent so abruptly as to collapse or kink the hose and injureit. r

A further object of theinvention-is to provide.

a protective device which will not only-prevent 1 kinking and'injury to the hose, but which will also serve as ahandle to enable greater power to be applied to the fitting during the coupling o'peration. I

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a hose having its end coupled to a rigid conduit or fitting, the opPOsite end of which is connected by a bayonet joint to the wall of a container, such as a beer barrel which is shown in section; and, V

Fig. 2 is'an elevation of the same viewed from the right toward the left, and illustrating also in dotted lines the position of the fitting and coupling as the fitting is applied to the barrel in horizontal position andthereafter moved to vertical position to complete the coupling and to place the parts in normal operative position.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing asvapplied to the coupling between a flexible beer hose and the fitting which enters and is secured to a beer barrel, or other container. 7

The beer hose which leads from the fitting to the cooling coils of the dispensing apparatus, or to the dispensing faucets, is usually of special rubber composition which does not contain in gradients which will impart an undesirable taste to the beer. Suchhose is made in Germany and isof an expensive character so that thereplacement of injured hose is costly. Injury to hose of this character is usually produced by careless manipulation by the operator when coupling the hose fitting to the barrel or container as the fitting and barrel are usually provided with complementary bayonet joint connections which require the rotation of the fitting through an arc. of approximately ninety degrees and the operator frequently willseize the hose near the coupling either because it is somewhat larger and more easilygrasped, or because it will afiorda greater leverage and. in thus manipulating the hose will bend it abruptly so that it eventually will become collapsed or kinked. v i

The specific object of the invention'is to pro-,

vide a protective device which will avoid injury 7 to the hose when such'coupling is made by the operator and also will avoid abrupt bending of the, hose or kinking thereof when the-hose .is of: greater length than is requiredto extend to the; cooling coils or faucets. The protective device, embodying the invention, however, is of greater utility and may be applied to a desired section; of anyconduit or hose to prevent abrupt bending thereof, or if the conduit or hose has been abrupty bentandsomewhat weakened to prevent further injury to it which would render it less efficient or useless.

In the construction illustrated in the drawing the fitting comprises a metal pipe or conduit, 01' L-shape, having a horizontal section I and an integral vertical section 2, the horizontal section I having near its end an enlarged portion 3 having an interrupted screw thread providing fins 4 adapted to be inserted through a socket member 5 in the wall 6 of a beer barrel or container and adapted to engage complementary recesses 'l in the socket member 5. The end of the fitting may have a reduced end portion 8 having lateral ports 9 to permit the fluid to enter the fitting. The fitting is provided with a cock l0 having the usual handle II. The opposite section 2 of thefitting is screw threaded near its end and is provided with an internally screw threaded union l2 having handles l3 adapted to engage the flanged end of a nipple I4 which, when the union I2 is screwed up, will hermetically connect the nipple to the end of the fitting.

The beer hose 15 which, as above stated, is of 7 substantial distance from the coupling'and thence diverges from the hose providing a bell-mouthed portion 22 which will permit substantial il'exure of the hose, but will prevent such abrupt-bendingas to kink or otherwise restrict 'the'hose. For example, if the hose for the protective device we're' coupled directly to the fitting and the hose were. of substantiallyigreater' len'g'th than necessary,

the 'weigh'tofthe hose together with that of the liquid contained thereinwouldcause an abrupt bendinglof the hose ator near the coupling which wouldpartiallycollapsethe hose or kink 'it, therebyren'dering'itinefiicient and eventually cause a rupture of the hoseat the"abrupt bend. The kinkingor restricting of the hose-by an abrupt bendwli'enjus'ed to convey beer or other carbonated'beverages' is likely, to produce foaming of the liquid so that it is improperly delivered from the faucet;- By reason ofthe present invention'such injury or decrease inthe efficiency of the hose is" avoided.

Theprotective-device Zilisof rubber composi tion having someflexibilit'y; butof greater rigidity than the hose'or conduit which it surrounds and tightly Theinnersur fa ceof the protective device,'being=of rubben fri'ctionally engages and adIiers tdtHeoutei' surface of the rubber beer hose'E'a thereby reenforces and strengthens it atarid beyond the coupled portion, whileflthe bell-mouthed end'portionwhich is'well'b'eyondthe end -or the coupling prevents abrupt bending of the hose; Dr'siraloly itisofsuificient strength to" afford a handlewliicli maybe grasped by the operator whehthe fitting isinserted in'the barrel and eiiiployed 'td assist turni'ngthe fitting from horizontal to vertical position without injury to the hose.

While the protective device is particularly described herein with reference to its application to couplings between the flexible hose or conduit and a rigid conduit, it may also be employed to reenforce any section of a hose or conduit which may be subject to abrupt bending or to reenforce a section of the hose or conduit which has been or may be weakened by bending.

It will therefore be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are of an illustrative character and not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A protector for a highly flexible rubber beer hose, having one end telescopically connected to the end of a rigid fitting, comprising a seamless tubular sleeve of elastic rubber composition of much greaterrigiditythan said hose closely fitting, frictionally engaging andnadhering to the telescoping end portion of the hose and a substantial portion thereof beyond thev coupling thereby reenforcing the coupled end portion ,of the hose, then" flaring outwardly to present, a bell-mouthed end operable to prevent abrupt bending or kinkingof the hose. while permitting the hose to flex in a curve which will not be injurious to'the'material of the hose.

2. A protecto-r'andhandle for a highly flexible beer-hose, having one end telescopically connected tothe end of -'a rigid L-shaped fitting-provided with a'bayonet" connection at'its other endto a beer barrel? comprising a seamless hose of: elastic rubber: composition closelyffitting, frictionally enng and'adheringzto the telescoping end portion-of the hose and a substantial portion thereof beyond the couplingqand thenflaring outwardly to present'a bell-mouthed" end; said protector being of sufiiciently greater rigidity than thehoseto provide a handle-for manipulating the? fitting when-making the bayonet connection thereof 'to' a barrel and also acting to prevent abrupt bend-- ing of the' hoserat or adjacent to=the' connection ofsaid fitting.

GEORGE J. KOPP 

